Box Score MOBILE, Ala. — Playing just 35 minutes from her hometown, the South Alabama softball program ruined
Karsen Pierce's return to Alabama when the Jaguars knocked off Texas State, 7-0, on Saturday afternoon.
Pierce, who graduated from Daphne High School in the Mobile area, started the game where Mullins left off Friday night as the sophomore struck out two of the three batters, she faced in the bottom of the first. Squeezed between the two punchouts were a grounder back to Pierce.
The following inning, though, the host Jaguars started their offensive production as South Alabama plated an unearned run on a two-out double steal of second and home, respectively. In the bottom of the third, USA added its second and third runs on a second double steal and a passed ball allowing Mackenzie Brasher to score from third.
South Alabama (12-13, 5-0) added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth when Stephanie Gonzalez doubled home Victoria Ortiz. Then Caroline Nichols plated pinch runner Janaeh Finney from third on a groundout to
Claire Ginder.
Abby Allen made it 6-0, Jaguars with a solo home run to open the bottom of the fifth. Gonzalez, later, made it 7-0, when she brought in Kamdyn Kvistad from third on a sacrifice fly to left field.
Offensively, Texas State (13-12, 1-4) only mustered three hits — all singles — off South Alabama starting pitcher Jenna Hardy.
Anna Jones and
Tori McCann collected two of the Bobcats' hit total during the second inning, before
Ciara Trahan opened the third with an infield single.
McCann's two-out single to right-centerfield in the second was the first hit for the junior pitcher since a run-scoring single in the second inning of the Bobcats' 3-2 win over then-No. 17 Minnesota on Feb. 21, 2020.
Trahan was the lone Bobcat to reach base after her third-inning single when she reached on a two-out fielding error by South Alabama shortstop Belle Wolfenden in the top of the fifth.
The two teams will close out the three-game series on Sunday, March 20, when first pitch is slated for 11 a.m. CT.
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